Race for cure at Relay for Life
Published: May 25, 2005
Finding a cure begins at home, and next month, Highland County residents can take one more step toward finding a cure for cancer.
The Highland County Relay for Life, sponsored by the American Cancer Society, will be held from 6 p.m. Friday, June 24, until noon Saturday, June 25, at the Highland County Fairgrounds in Hillsboro.
The American Cancer Society is the largest non-profit source of funds for scientists studying cancer, providing a comprehensive array of cancer prevention and detection programs; 24-hour-a-day cancer information and education services; state advocacy and initiatives and scientific research.
Relay for Life is an 18-hour event in which locally sponsored teams walk or run on a track or set course in a noncompetitive race to raise money for cancer research.
Currently there are 30 teams signed up to walk in the Highland County relay.
The night begins with an opening victory lap by local cancer survivors, followed by a team lap. After the team lap, one member of each team will be on the course for the remainder of the relay.
Last year’s Relay for Life event exceeded the collection goal by raising $68,000 with more than 200 participants, according to Andrea Anderson, income development manager for the Southwest Ohio office of the American Cancer Society. This year, the collection goal is $80,000.
“We do it to raise money to support research, and also to support the people who have had cancer,” said Kim Sexton, a Relay for Life volunteer who is organizing a silent auction to raise money.
“This year, we are doing a silent auction, which is something new we’ve not done before,” said Sexton. “Different teams are joining in this year, obtaining items, and the items sold will go to their team credit for the amount they are raising.”
The auction will be set up in the Wharton building of the fairgrounds from 7-9 p.m. on the Friday evening of the walk.
“I am a nurse — I see these people every day and it is just a great feeling to be able to help to raise money for research,” said Sexton. “It makes me feel good about myself to be able to help.”
“Relay for Life is the signature event of the American Cancer Society,” said Anderson. “It is our main event to raise money for programs and services offered in Highland County.”
A portion of all of the money raised will go toward cancer research, Anderson said, but some of the funds will go back to Highland County in the form of support groups and services like “Road to Recovery,” a program that provides transportation for cancer patients to treatments and doctor appointments, and “Look Good … Feel Better,” a program that is geared toward dealing with the appearance of side effects of treatment, and teaches patients how to take care of their skins, use wigs and head wraps, and each patient receives $200 in free products.
“Around 9:30 a.m., we hold our luminary ceremony,” Anderson said.
Lights are placed around the track in memory of a person who has lost the battle with cancer, in celebration of someone who has survived, or to honor and remember all of them.
“There are games, contests and music playing throughout the night,” said Anderson. “It is a really fun event.”
Anderson said that by supporting Relay for Life, it is supporting finding a cure for cancer.
“Relay for Life is the main way that we raise the money that we need to fight cancer,” Anderson said. “The more community support we get, the closer we get to finding a cure.”
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